Extensible supporting device.



E. A. CLARK.

BXTENSIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION IILED SEPT.19, 1907.

Patented Jan. 19,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATT RNEY E. A. CLARK.

EXTBNSIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1907. 909,990. Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

19 E \M'TNE55E: INVI NTDR Wm M PATENT OFFICE ELMER A. CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER A. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Extensible Supporting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to extensible bars or racks and especially to devices of this class which are designed to be slidably retracted into a small compass when not in use, and to receive a number of garment hangers or other devices suspendedtherefrom.

The chief objects of my invention are to provide an extensible device which, when attached to a suitable support, can be wholly or partially elongated and retracted according to requirements.

Further objects are to provide an extensible device which will resent a stron resistance to deflection, and thus prevent the sagging to which such devices'are prone; to produce a contrivance for the purpose stated that when retracted will present a neat ap-.

pearance; to supply rotatable bearings for the movable parts in order to reduce the friction to a minimum, and toconstru'ct the various members of such shape and materials as will prevent warping and sticking of the superimposed parts. I accomplish the above, and other minor results by means of the appliance, illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which 2- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in sectionof my improved rack in retracted positi on; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, reduced showing the rack extended; .Fig. 3 is a perspec-' tive view of one of the parting strips or fillers; Fig. 4 is a transverse section; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of the lower casing member; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section showing a portion of the modified form of the median member or beam, and part of the lower member with one of the parting strips} Fig. 7 is a transverse, section of the modified form of rack; Fig. 8 is an end view of a modified form of beam. and Fig. 9 is an end View of the upper casing in the modified form.

Referring more in detail to Figs. 1 to 4: of the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a cylindrical handle having a vertical extens1on or bracket-11 from the side ofwhich projects horizontally an arm 12 to support Specification. of Letters Patent. Application filed September 19, 1907. Serial No. 393,619.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

- bracket being bent upward again to form a stop for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

from the brackets 15 and 11 and 1s secured thereto by rivets 17. The upper side of the lower casing member 13 is provided with a longitudinal slot 18, and above said member 13 is placed an upper rectangular casing under side. These members 13 and 19 are held together by a median member in the form of an I-beam 25. The web of the beam located in the slots 18, and the flanges .24 are received with a loose fit in the upper and lower casing members 19, 13. The flanges 24 are supported midway between the top and bottom plates of the casing members by parting strips or fillers 20, 21, said strips having a sliding movement in the members .in which they are arranged. The parts thus described have a sliding fit so that the upper and lower casing members 19 and 13 can be slid upon the I-beam, or the upper casing and beam can be slid upon the lower member. In order to lessen the friction, I furnish the partin strips 20 with rollers 22, mounted upon ax es 23, said rollers being the movements of the fillers 20, 'I provide casing membersas shown in said Figs. 1 to 4 and project into the path of said strips.

The strips 20 are preferably made of hard mounted therein as may be desired. their function being to serve as guides and antifrictional bearings for the slidable members. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, these bearings are arranged on upper and lower sides of the flanged portions of the slidable bars so that they receive the upward thrust as well as the downward pressure of'said bars. The strips being relatively long'serve' as guides in keeping the bars in true alinement thus avoiding twisting resulting where no such provision is made.

It will thus be observed that the hollow quadrangular casing members in connection The ends of the rods engage lugs projecting V member 19, having a similar slot 18 in the housed in slots 22. In order to prevent dis-' lodgment of the sliding parts and to. limit stops 26 which are-secured to the Walls ofthe wood and may have as many balls or rollers with the I-beam u on which they slide form a structure especia 1y adapted to resist vertical stress and the lower member with its brackets and tube is well adapted to support 5 the other extensible parts with the added weight of the articles which may be placed thereon.

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive illustrate a form of construction slightly modified in the follow- 10 ing details. The handle l0 has an opening 10"- and the stops 26 are formed by slotting and bending portions of the casing Walls 13 and 19, The rollers are replaced by balls 28 which are retained in openings 27 extending through the parting stri s 20. The

I-beam is constructed of two dnp icate channel pieces 30 placed'b'ack to back and secured by rivets 31 the margins of the channels thus forming the flanges 29and resting on or hearing against the rollers or balls. The operation of the structure is the same as described in reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

I What I claim is 1. In an extensible rack, comprising two or more members slidably arranged relative to each other, anti-frictional means arranged between said members and consisting ofa bar having openings therein and rollers mounted in said openings, the faces of said .30 rollers projecting above and below the face of the bar.

2. In a rack, a flanged member, an upper hollow member and a lower hollow member, said members having a sliding relation to 35 each other, and anti-frictional means aranged between said members and comprising a movable bearing strip and anti-frictional devices mounted on said strip.

3. In a rack, a fixed member, a flanged member having a slidable relation to said fixed member, and anti-frictional means arranged between said members, said means comprising a slidable wood strip having openings therein and anti-frictional devices mounted in said openings. 4. In a rack, a fix'ed member, a flanged member having a slidable relation to said fixed member, and a bearing strip slidably arranged relative to said membersyha-ving anti-frictional means mounted therein.

5. In a rack, a fixed member, a flanged member having a slidable relation tosaid fixed member, a bearing strip having'a slidab'le relation to said members and a hangeron said flanged mem- 7. In an extensible rack, anti-frictional bearing means comprising a slidable strip having openings therein and anti-frictional devices mounted in said openings.

8. In an extensiblerack, anti-frictional bearing means comprising a slidable wood strip having openings therein, and rollers mounted in said openings. f.

9-. In an extensible rack, a fixed hollow member, a slidable hollow member, a'hangerrod and a handle secured to said slidable member, a flanged member connecting said hollow members, and anti-frictional means arranged between the flanges of the flanged member and the opposite walls of the hollow members, said means comprising a slidablc bar and rollers mounted in said bar.

10. In an extensible r ack, a fixed hollow member, a slidable hollow member, a third member connecting said hollow member and slidable therein, filler strips arranged between the opposed 'faces of said members,

and anti-frictional means mounted in said strips.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ELMER A. CLARK. W'itnesses: S. I. SCHULTZ, P. A. LovEGRnN. 

